From the morning's match in Beeston it was a short and simple drive to the Nottingham suburb of Nuthall, and the Basil Russell Park which is now home to Bilborough United.

It's a park pitch, but a pleasant one with the pitch roped off and close to a pavilion that sits on top of a grass bank. As always with hop games, the host club had put a lot of effort in to cater for the large crowd.

The only goal came early, after six minutes by my watch, and despite their best efforts Ashland couldn't find a way to equalise. Similar to the earlier game at Beeston, there was no lack of quality on the pitch, just a lack of clear chances.

My plan after Bilborough had been a Notts Senior League game at 3pm at nearby Aspley Park. Annoyingly the kick off was brought forward to 2.30pm, making it very tight after this match. Luckily the Bilborough game finished promptly, giving me hope, but when I pulled into the car park at Aspley Park's ground I discovered that the venue, as well as the kick off, had changed.

I still had 30 minutes to drive to Shirebrook Rangers for a Midlands Regional Alliance game at 3pm, but I arrived at 2.59pm to learn it had started half-an-hour early. I didn't hang around to find out why, and headed home instead.

An early start and a large crowd ... yes it's another organised groundhop. This time it was the Nottinghamshire Senior League's turn, staging four matches with staggered kick offs for those of us keen to tick off extra grounds.

Having already been to the last two venues my schedule wasn't as hectic as some, although my plans for a third game of the day, at a non-hop ground, were to bite the dust.

Unfortunately neither Beeston not Underwood Villa could provide a goal for the many watching. The woodwork was struck in the first half, and near the end the referee ruled out the one effort that did hit the back of the net.

The football was decent enough, but neither side was able to create much in the way of chances, and the nil nil scoreline had the air of inevitability about it.

Beeston hope to move to a new ground, possibly as early as the start of next season, so it was good to get to the Hetley Pearson Recreation Ground while they're still there. There's a modern pavilion and a football pitch that was roped off.

It's been quite a season for Illingworth St Mary's. This was their 24th and final league fixture, and they duly secured their 24th win at a canter against a Denholme side who needed a win to retain a chance of promotion.

It was always a tall order for the visitors, and they had their keeper to thank for a string of fine saves, including stopping a harshly-awarded penalty, to keep Illingworth at bay for the first 25 minutes.

Having gone ahead the home side doubled their advantage by half time. The second half was mostly one way traffic, as Illingworth put Denholme to the sword for my first double figure scoreline of the season. If it wasn't for the Denholme keeper the score would have been well into the teens.

Illingworth St Mary's play home games on a 3G pitch at Trinity Academy, just north of Halifax. Finding the school is easy enough, but finding the pitch was a challenge. I thought the game was off such was the lack of activity in and around the car park.

Luckily, while searching for the pitch I heard a distant referee's whistle, and just about made it to the venue before the game got underway.

There's a car park behind the goal of the 3G pitch, and at half time I took the opportunity to move my car from the school car park. Just as well I did, as when drove past after the game the school car park appeared to be locked up.

The 3G pitch at Trinity Academy isn't yet on Google Maps, but here's a link to its location

6.30pm 28 April 2016St Helens and District Combination, Premier DivisionWest Park 0 Old Mill 0 (att 10) abandoned at half time due to weather conditions

Having enjoyed my first taste of the St Helens Combination earlier in the week, a nine-goal thriller featuring West Park FC, I decided to see the side again for their home game against Old Mill.

The game began in bright sunshine, and despite being goalless was quite lively, but as half time approached the storm clouds were, quite literally, gathering around the pitch.

Once the ref blew for the end of the 40 minute first half I headed back to my car for an umbrella, fearing I'd need it. By the time I'd got it the hailstorm was torrential and there was fork lightning overhead.

It was no surprise to see players heading for the changing rooms as I returned to the pitch, and abandoning the game was surely the correct decision.

Abandoned games, and whether or not to "count" them, is a topic that often divides groundhoppers. My rule is that if a game gets to at least half time then I'll consider the ground "ticked", and as the ref blew for half time before stopping play then that's good enough for me.

That said, the Bishop Road venue in St Helens isn't far from home and is used by several clubs, so there's every chance I'll return in the future for a full game.

When it gets to late April you expect to be watching games in spring sunshine, but at Farnworth's Fern Street ground we had hail, sleet and snow to contend with. Luckily the players made light of the conditions and produced an entertaining game.

Neither side had much to play for, although the threat of relegation still lingers for Wyresdale after a comprehensive defeat. The home side scored twice in the first half, then added a second half penalty to complete the scoring.

Bolton Wyresdale played their part and created chances, but found Farnworth's keeper in fine form whenever a goal looked likely. A later than planned kick off meant we had two 40-minute halves, but it was an enjoyable 80 minutes, despite the weather.

The last time I saw a Farnworth Town home game they played nearby at Harper Green, but this season they've returned to their former home at Fern Street. There's changing rooms (replaced after they were stolen in 2011) and space for a couple of pitches, and it has an enclosed feel even though it is, in effect, a public park.

I'd never seen a St Helens Combination game before, but options for a new ground were limited so I made my debt in the competition at Clock Face, one of St Helen's former coal mining areas.

The home side are bottom of the premier division, but came out on top against mid table opponents after a battle in which the entertainment more than made up for any shortcomings in skill.

The first 40 minutes showed little prospect of the goal glut that was to come, but once Clock Face went in front West Park levelled within a minute, then seconds after the restart the home side scored again to go 2-1 up.

The sides traded more goals during a very enjoyable second half, the final strike being the winner for Clock Face.

The club are based at I assume was previously the miners welfare club. It's not a bad venue for this level of football, with a single football pitch fairly well enclosed and an adjacent clubhouse containing a tea bar as well as a more traditional bar.

6.45pm 25 April 2016West Cheshire League, Division TwoKirkby Town Railway 2 Maghull reserves 2 (att 12)
Midweek games at this stage of the season often involve visits to uninspiring venues, and a partly-roped off pitch on a windswept school playing in Kirkby, particularly on cold evening, didn't promise a great evening.

But thankfully Kirkby Town Railway and Maghull played some decent football and provided a game that was entertaining enough, just about, to take my mind off the cold wind that blew across the pitch.

Maghull's second team deserved their draw, but it took a couple of late goals to cancel out the home side's two goal lead, which they built up thanks to well taken goals in each half.

Last time I saw a Kirkby Town Railway home game they were based at Kirkby Sports College, but now they're playing at All Saints Catholic High School. It's a very basic venue, just a pitch with one side roped off.

Once again other commitments limited the radius I could travel for football, but I was more than happy to see if Dronfield Old Boys could get the point they needed to win the Hope Valley League's middle division.

Visitors Tideswell will have to settle for being runners-up, an outcome that was on the cards once the home side scored an opening goal in the first minute, and added a second thanks to a fifth minute penalty.

Tideswell recovered from their poor start to get more into the game, but were undone when Old Boys scored two more in the second half. With the result beyond doubt the home eased up towards the end, allowing Tideswell two goals to reduce the arrears.

Dronfield Old Boys only joined the Hope Valley League this season, and their success has justified the unusual decision to allow them to begin on Division A rather than the lowest tier, Division B.

They're based at Coal Aston Playing Fields, on the northern edge of Dronfield, a basic venue with changing rooms and a couple of pitches, with this fixture on pitch B.

About Me

When I’m not working, or doing other things, I’m a groundhopper. This blog will record every new ground I visit for football, with a brief match report, ground description and a few photos.
Any spelling mistakes or typos are likely to be the result of blogging after a glass or two of wine, and attendance figures are my headcounts or estimates (official figures used if available).